Friday, September 12
1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Strategies for Whole Health Wellness
In this workshop, Sharon Jenkins-Tucker will provide effective strategies to promote mind and body wellness, reviewing techniques for counteracting the challenges to overall health, such as chronic stress and obesity, faced by people with mental illnesses.
Alternative Therapies and Emerging Technologies
As a clinician and researcher dedicated to helping people with depression and bipolar disorder, Dr. Lauren Marangell understands that help can come in many forms. This session will broadly cover ideas that range from natural supplements and exercise to new device technologies and future directions in pharmacology. At the heart of each is a scientific rational. Equally important is scientific study to evaluate if an intervention is simply an interesting idea or genuinely helpful. As such, this session will include both ideas to improve the lives of people suffering from depression and bipolar disorders and the best available evidence regarding these novel therapeutics.
Genetics Studies of Mood Disorders: The Future is Ours
Internationally renowned researcher Melvin McInnis, MD, will present an overview of genetics and heredity in mood disorders—including the latest information from the G11, one of the largest and longest-lived collaborations among 11 universities within the U.S. He will also review current thinking, findings and philosophies behind ongoing and planned scientific studies, as well as how and why you can play a key role in this critical research.
Effectively Managing Your Illness & Finances
Simultaneously managing finances and a mood disorder requires creativity and skill. This workshop will offer practical strategies and resources to monitor your finances and avoid finance-related triggers in everyday life.
Saturday, September 13
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Person-Centered Treatment & Planning
Led by Diane Grieder, MEd, and Larry Fricks, this workshop explores why the concept of person-centered treatment—which values each individual’s lived experience and emphasizes self-directed recovery plans—is critical to recovery.
Successful Interpersonal Relationships
This workshop will provide practical tips for maintaining and improving significant relationships, such as a marriage or domestic partnership, making sure that both parties’ needs are understood and met.
Shared Decision Making: Partnering With Your Clinician
Gregory Simon, MD, MPh, will present strategies for developing mutual partnerships with your health care providers, sharing background on emerging concepts and communication tools focused on quality of life rather than symptom measurement.
1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Mental Health Parity…& Beyond
Led by Randy Revelle, this workshop addresses advocacy issues at the state and federal levels, with a focus on mental health parity, why we need it and its benefits and costs. We will look at Washington State’s model parity law, other state laws and the key ingredients to enacting a strong parity law. The session will conclude with an overview of advocacy tools available on the DBSA Web site and a review of achievable action steps for change!
Cultural Inclusion: A Panel Discussion
This panel discussion will offer a wide variety of viewpoints and examine strategies for breaking down barriers to successful treatment at an individual, community and system level.
Successful Career Planning
In this workshop led by Karen Fuqua, you’ll learn about the link between mood and career success, discover helpful assessment tools and explore methods to help you create a personalized career path.
Stamp Out Stigma and Rev Up Your Recovery!
Stephen Propst, MBA, will lead this highly interactive and engaging look at how stamping out stigma can rev up your recovery. Learn what is behind stigma, how to deal with it effectively and why doing so pays off. Discover a hands-on approach to dealing head-on with stigma and support your peers in the process. Stigma no longer has to be a roadblock on the path to recovery.
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Women & Mood Disorders
Not just for women! Learn about women’s issues specific to you or a loved one, including the effects of menopause, hormones, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and pregnancy on mood disorders.
Online Support & Recovery Tools
More and more individuals are turning to online resources to provide support and wellness strategies. Learn what options exist as well as the benefits and potential hazards of this emerging medium.
Trauma: Looking Back & Moving Forward
Presenter Victoria Maxwell will examine severe trauma and traumas we all face and their effect on mood disorders, providing strategies to move forward towards recovery. Particularly highlighted will be her concept of "The Healing Tapestry" and how it helps create meaning from painful experiences.
Sparking Creativity in Healing
Elizabeth Maynard Schaefer, PhD, a consumer, science journalist and author of "Writing through the Darkness: Easing Your Depression with Paper and Pen," will share creative writing techniques, such as journaling, poetry, fiction and blogging— including those shown to ease emotional trauma and depressive symptoms and even improve the immune system.
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